Whether you are new to the wonderful world of coffee, or an experienced aficionado, there is always something new to learn. New information about the coffee experience is continually coming to light. Continue reading this article to find out more about the best ways to use coffee to enhance your life.
If you want great coffee at home you have a couple choices. You can invest in either an espresso machine, or one of the new single serve coffee makers. The espresso machine will require a bit of a learning curve as you learn to properly brew espresso and steam milk, but can be a great way to impress your friends.
If you like a delicate flavor in your coffee, try adding some right to the pot while it’s brewing. A pinch of cinnamon or a few drops of vanilla will add flavor to the brew. Flavoring your coffee this way will keep the flavor from being too overwhelming, and you won’t need cream or milk.
If you like iced coffee, try brewing strong coffee during the evening and refrigerating it. Your coffee will already be chilled and will not be diluted by the ice cubes. To properly sweeten your iced coffee, add sweetener before placing in the refrigerator. Using this technique will result in a perfect iced coffee in the morning.
When you brew your coffee at home, do not throw out the used grounds. These coffee grounds might not be good for another cup of coffee, but they are excellent for many other purposes. They are great for composting, exfoliating, cleaning, and quite a few other uses. Don’t throw them away!
While your coffee is brewing, try soaking the coffee mugs in hot water. A cold mug will cool off your drink before you can even get it to your lips! When the coffee is ready, simply dry off the mugs and serve. This trick will keep it hot much longer.
If you like to grind your own coffee, try adding a few nuts to the grinder along with the beans. Many people enjoy the interesting flavor nuts provide to a cup of coffee. Some great nuts to try include: almonds, hazelnuts and macadamia nuts. You can even experiment with nutty combinations!
To get pure coffee, use pure water. Remember that everything you put in your brew will affect its final taste. That is the reason why distilled water, bottled water or filtered tap water will give you the coffee with the best taste.
If you really want to try your hand at making a great cup of fresh roasted coffee, try roasting the beans yourself. There are a variety of ways to roast your own beans if you have access to green coffee. You can even put them on a cookie sheet in your oven to roast them yourself.
You should never reheat coffee, as it will just burn the beverage and taste far worse than being cold. Instead, know when you will have your coffee for more than 20 minutes. Have an insulated mug or a thermal carafe handy for these occasions to retain the original heat and warmth.
Consider purchasing a coffee grinder that has conical or flat grinding burrs. These grinders reduce heat generation. Less heat means your coffee tastes better. Grinders that have simple blade mechanisms grind inconsistently. Because they generate excessive heat, it is actually possible for them to burn the beans.
If you are used to an independent coffee house, then be careful when ordering in Starbucks. They have a very different language for their products, as part of their distinct branding. The Caramel Macchiato you love back home is not going to taste at all the same in a Starbucks while on the road.
Only store your coffee beans at room level temperatures. Coffee beans that get stored inside a cold appliance are going to attract and absorb both condensation and the aromas of nearby foods. The resulting flavor of the coffee is going to wind up reflecting this, and turn into substandard coffee.
Buy new coffee beans every two weeks. Once you open coffee beans, they usually don’t have a set expiration date. You can seal them in airtight containers to keep them fresh longer. You will, however, likely find that the quality of the taste starts to fade a bit after two weeks.
If you frequent a particular coffeehouse often, see if they will give you a discount for bringing in your own cup or mug. These cups can sometimes cost the shop a few pennies at a time, so they can save money too over time. They also get the chance to make a pro-environmental statement with you.
Be inventive when it comes to flavoring your coffee. Brown sugar can add a different flavor to your coffee. Other flavor extracts that go well with coffee include cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg. It is always possible to use almond, soy and rice milks in coffee instead of traditional milk and creamer.
Seek recommendations from those around you. The people you know may have tried a blend of coffee that you have not. Asking around is a great way to discover new coffee ideas. Your friends and family may even be willing to give you a sample of their favorite blend to try.
Do not pour your cup of coffee before it finishes brewing. It will taste much better, and stronger, if you do so. The combination of brewing and dripping coffee creates an intoxicating blend.
Learn about what sort of coffee grind to use. The type of grind you should use depends on how you are making your coffee. Course grinds are better when using a French press. Medium grinds are best for auto-drip coffee makers. Fine grinds are best suited for coffee makers that use cone filters.
Now that you know a little bit more about coffee, you should be able to enjoy it with abandon. Discover new ways to enjoy it, and let new flavors take you to new heights. You’ll never go wrong experimenting with coffee. You can enjoy the coffee experience now matter who or where you are.
